Book Trailers: Money Vs. No Money

I know a lot of readers can take or leave book trailers, and most of the time I'm in leave 'em camp. But, I'll be honest - when I run up against a particularly well done one, book trailers have a way of snagging my attention. And most days, my attention span is on par with the life cycle of a fruit fly. I've seen two particularly interesting trailers of late, one for a suspense novel, the other for a historical romance trilogy.

First up, is the money trailer. This is for Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen, which comes out in late June. Gerritsen is a Big New York Times Bestselling Author, so naturally there's some money to throw around on a book trailer. Also, a new TNT series based on this series is debuting this summer, so it behooves the publisher (and author) to throw some extra promo dollars around. I don't love this trailer as much as the one she did for her previous book, The Keepsake, but I still like it quite a bit.

(ETA 5/1: The author popped up in the comments section to say that the trailer was actually the product of some local guys, a hand-held camera, and a snowy Maine day. So a low-budget affair, and the publisher didn't foot the bill. I think it looks slick!)



On the other end of the spectrum, in regards to money and genre, we have Tessa Dare, who has done a book trailer for her upcoming Stud Club trilogy, which lands this summer. Dare did this promo trailer herself, and while it has a decidedly homemade feel to it, it's so charming and funny I can't help but be tickled by it. If I didn't already have plans to buy and read this new trilogy, this trailer would have tipped me right over the edge. Yes authors, this is sometimes all it takes. Amuse Wendy and she'll open up her wallet.

How Far Is Too Far?

I listen to the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich on audiobook. I've always listened to this series on audio, having never "read" a single one of them. Ever. Now, I know myself well enough to know that if I did "read" these books, I would have chucked this series to the curb ages ago. The monotony would have gotten to me by now, especially since I can't remember the last time the author gave readers a credible villain and halfway decent mystery. But as far as listening to them? I like them. They're undemanding brain candy.

That being said, I just got around listening to Finger Lickin' Fifteen and have to say it....

Meh.

Way too much Lula. Dear God, way, way, way too much Lula. Between the author regaling me with Lula's farts (Seriously? Fart jokes?!), and constant harrumphing (is it just me or does this character talk in grunts entirely too much?), I was past full-up. Oh, and for the record? Exploding diarrhea caused by bad barbecue? Not funny. I'm not even sure it's funny to 13-year-old boys.

All of which got me thinking on the subject of fluffy reads and just how far I can be pushed into "wacky territory" before my suspension of disbelief snaps. Now, obviously, I'm a big fan of fluff. I mean, I just enjoyed a mystery that featured a heroine thwarting the advances of a would-be Romeo from Uzbekistan. So I'm not incapable of shutting off my internal monologue when it comes to Funny Ha Ha books. So while Uzbekistan suitor is OK, a celebrity chef getting decapitated in broad daylight, in the middle of a street, in Stephanie Plum's Trenton, New Jersey was too much for me to roll with.

Yeah. Decapitated. In the middle of the day, in the middle a street. Also, I found it unsettling that a celebrity chef gets his head chopped off in Trenton and the media isn't crawling all over the city like a cockroach on a week-old Tasty Kake left out in the sun. And exactly how much sense does it make that Ranger asks for Stephanie's help in tracking down the guy sabotaging his business? I mean, hello?! Ranger is Batman. Stephanie is...well...totally inept.

On the bright side, I got my yummy Ranger fix.

So gentle readers, how wacky is too wacky? What has been known to push you over the edge and snap your suspension of disbelief in half? And for that matter, does anyone out there actually like the character of Lula? Seriously? Inquiring minds want to know.

Like A Band Of Gypsies

Today's blog post is brought to you by the letters N and H. As in, Not Here.

First up, my latest post has gone live over at Readers Gab. Stop and by and read all about me blathering on the topic of books as social media.

Next up, Keira from the Love Passion Romance blog recently interviewed me for her semi-regular Reader Highlight feature. Why not head on over, take a peak at pictures of my TBR Mountain Range, and read all about my favorite librarian heroines, my take on historical western romances, and my favorite romance clinch cover.

And finally, a huge thanks to Mollie from Book Fare Delights for pointing out to me on Twitter last week that the Columbus Metropolitan Library system of Columbus, Ohio featured the Bat Cave in a post on their Great Reads blog. I'll admit it, I was (and still am) all sorts of tickled. Mostly because while I am a librarian, I wouldn't consider this blog a hot-bed of library-related material. Mostly it's an excuse to talk about romance novels. So it's always nice to find out that other librarians actually do stop by and visit every now and then, even though I'm hardly what one would consider an "library industry" blog by any stretch of the imagination.

Random Romance Sunday: She's No Angel

The Book: I'm No Angel by Patti Berg

The Particulars: Contemporary Romance, Avon, 2004, In Print

The Blurb:

Top 7 Reasons Why She's No Angel

7. Easily Palm Beach's sexiest private investigator, Angel Devlin always gets her man -- and bad boy millionaire Tom Donovan is at the top of her Most Wanted list.

6. Instinct tells her that drop-dead-gorgeous Tom has something wicked up his sleeve, and she's going to get up close and personal to find out just what.

5. Her list of nocturnal activities includes lifting a wallet while seductively skimming her hands over her victim's rock-solid chest and performing a bewitching lap dance at a seedy underground club.

4. There's nothing sweet or innocent about Angel -- she's as sharp as the steel stiletto she wears strapped to her shapely thigh.

3. Her motto is "dress to thrill." A tight skirt, a hint of cleavage, and a pair of kick-ass Jimmy Choos will make a man open up and divulge all sorts of little secrets.

2. Angel is devilish, devious, and sexy as sin.

1. She's the first to admit she's no angel, but it doesn't stop Tom from falling head over heels in love with the mischievous blonde.

Is It In Wendy's TBR?: Why, yes - it is. I picked it up at an RWA conference one year (no clue which city/year).

Any Reviews?: All About Romance gave it a B-:

It's a fun story, though not much more than that. Despite some of the more serious touches (Alzheimer's, the murders), the book never becomes heavy in the least. It takes place in the high-gloss, low-substance world of Palm Beach society, and the book fits the setting perfectly. It's very frothy and light, a little too easy in places. For instance, after they have sex, there's an argument between the two and Angel stomps off in a huff. About a chapter later, Tom does something nice and all is forgiven as if it never happened. It's that kind of book. It's not very deep, it's not very substantive, but it has a kind of effervescent, fizzy charm.

Mrs. Giggles gave it a 71:

I'm No Angel isn't a particularly bad book, just a book without a clear and definite mood or voice. It can't make up its mind whether to be over the top, under the line, left of the middle, or right of center and the result is a totally disoriented me. Still, the signs have been there in Patti Berg's previous few books that she is heading towards the comedic romantic suspense route and I'm No Angel is her first outright dip in that direction.

Anything Else?: This is the author's most recent book, but according to her web site (last updated January 2010), she's still writing.

NFL Draft Widow

For those of you who have a life, you're most likely unaware that the NFL Draft is this weekend. You know how I feel about romance novels? Well, that's how My Man feels about the NFL Draft. He loves it. Adores it. Lives for it every year. And every year I brace myself for the inevitable:

1) In their infinite wisdom the NFL has decided to stretch the draft out over three days. Three days! Round 1 tonight. Rounds 2 and 3 tomorrow. Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday. I hate this. My Man hates this. The NFL is doing it because they're greedy frickin' a-holes with dollar signs flashing before their eyes. And since there's a core of the football watchin' population that lurves the Draft, they're pretty much stuck watching it how the NFL wants it delivered - so this three day experiment will likely score big ratings and will be here to stay.

2) By Day Two My Man will be cursing out the bone-headed Talking Heads for talking about the same five players over and over again. My Man, being a Draft-junkie, likes to hear about the guys nobody has ever heard of. The players that will get drafted in rounds four and lower. Instead the Talking Heads will keep up a steady stream of inane chatter about the Top 5 picks, which will now drag on over the course of three long days.

3) The Buffalo Bills will have a horrible draft and will very likely do something incredibly stupid. This year, my money is on them drafting Tim Tebow. I asked My Man what would happen should Buffalo do this and his exact words were, "I'm done. I'm out. That's it. If they draft Tebow that means they're listening to Jim Kelly. ::shudder::"

You heard it here first folks. I figure if I blog about it, then he has to follow through, assuming Buffalo does lose their minds and draft a guy who is as much of an NFL quarterback as I am (Ha!). I told My Man that this could be good for his soul. His relationship with the Bills has been entirely one-sided for entirely too long. He's loved them. He's devoted his life to them. He's stood by them. And what has he gotten in return?

Nothing but heartache.

Of course I'm a Detroit Tigers fan, so I probably shouldn't be talking smack. Hello pot, meet kettle.

So that's what I'll be doing this weekend. The usual chores, hopefully some reading, all while listening to My Man yell at the Talking Heads and cursing out The Bills.

Fun times at the Bat Cave.

(I kid though. I like watching bits of the Draft. Just not the entire weekend. After a while the Talking Heads get to me. And simmer down Tebow fans. If this kid turns out to be anything other than happy shiny off-the-field PR I'll be the first to line up to eat crow. But in my opinion? I won't be dining at your table anytime...well...ever.)

TBR Challenge 2010: You Can Go Home Again

The Book: John Riley's Girl by Inglath Cooper

The Particulars: Harlequin SuperRomance #1198, 2004, Out Of Print, Contemporary Romance

Why Was It In The Bat Cave TBR?: Next to Harlequin Historical, Harlequin SuperRomance is my favorite category romance line, and I've read and enjoyed two other books by Cooper. Also of note, this particular book won the 2005 RITA for Best Long Contemporary Romance.

The Review: Olivia Ashford left the small Virginia town of Summerville right after high school without saying goodbye to anyone - and that included her boyfriend, John Riley. She's now a successful, local TV news anchor in Washington D.C. and is on the cusp of getting a big promotion. Then her BFF from high school calls her and invites her to their 15-year high school reunion. Olivia is on the verge of saying no, when a thought hits her. Maybe the reason she's so unhappy, the reason she's at loose ends, is because she never put her past properly to bed. Maybe going home is just what she needs.

John is now a widower and single father to a young daughter. He was desperately in love with Olivia and her leaving him without so much as an explanation stung. Badly enough, so it seems, that he never quite got over her. He feels guilty about this, especially in the face of his wife's devotion to him, her long illness, and eventual death. He never expected Olivia to come to the reunion. She's successfully avoided him and the town for 15 years. So color him shocked when she does show up.

This is one of those stories where Small Town = Wholesome Apple Pie Goodness. I know a lot of readers who cannot tolerate this sort of thing, but it's a trope that does still work for me as long the author avoids the obvious pitfall - which Cooper does here. Olivia is not happy at the start of this book. She's at that moment where everything she's been striving for in her career is about to come true, and all she can think is "Do I really want this?" She's not so sure anymore. She only knows that she's been coasting through her life and that she's desperately lonely. It's no way to live. She goes home looking for answers and maybe a little closure. This worked for me. It's much more annoying when the Big City Career Gal heroine starts out the book "happy" and then chucks that happiness off a cliff all because the hero can give her mind-altering orgasms.

The main stumbling block, for me, is that the reader has to buy into the idea that John and Olivia had such a deep lurve connection as high school sweethearts that they're still pining for each other 15 years later. On one level, I get it. When a relationship just "stops" (as opposed to "ending properly"), and there's a lack of closure, it's hard to move on. Believe me, I've been there. But, there does come a point where you need to chalk it up to the other person being an emotional cripple and Move. The. Eff. On. We're talking 15 years here. 15 years. That's a long time. An amount of time that should have taken both hero and heroine to the nearest therapist to hash out why they were both incapable of Moving. The. Eff. On.

Those of you who aren't category romance aficionados will likely not "get" this, but there are just some authors in the Harlequin Universe who fit their chosen line like a comfortable pair of old jeans. Inglath Cooper is a perfect fit for SuperRomance - a line I go to for my emotional intensity fix. Quibbles aside, there's no denying that Cooper is a writer who can burrow under your skin, find your heart-strings, and pluck out an entire operatic score. She milks every last emotional drop out of this story, rendering me a limp noodle by the end of it.

By the end of the story I'm not entirely convinced John and Olivia are forging a future together based on the "present" - but the journey was nice to read about, and the author, whose last book came out in 2006, hits all the right emotional notes. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough for me.

Final Grade = B-

Side note: The author's web site is D.O.A. (new site coming Spring 2009!). Here's hoping she's still writing.

If You'll Be My Bodyguard

I remember when the Kensington Brava line first launched. For those of you who weren't active in the online romance community during this period, the only thing I can compare it to is like someone dropping a bomb in your bedroom. There were vocal factions on both sides of the "issue." There were those readers who thought that Brava was nothing more than porn for woman and an End Of Days sign that meant the eventual death of the genre (sadly, I'm not exaggerating here). Then there were readers like myself who threw their clothes on a bonfire, ran naked into the street and danced a jig. I read a lot of Brava early on, especially when I was still affiliated with TRR, but over the years I sort of drifted away. Other publishers launched more "erotic" lines, I got distracted, and Brava and I grew apart. That is, until I started doing my homework reading for my library's recent literary event. Discovering HelenKay Dimon's books have reminded me that when done right, there is nothing quite like a Brava.

Leave Me Breathless tells the story of Bennett "Ben" Walker, former military man turned Judge, who is not terribly happy with his big brother, Mark, Homeland Security agent. Even though a car bomb destroyed Ben's car, he's not convinced he's in any danger. He thinks the bomb was meant for his colleague, Judge Emma Blanton, who made some inflammatory statements regarding a defendant in her courtroom. Determined to keep his brother safe, Mark hires Callie Robbins, a former FBI agent, who is extremely grateful for the job. That is, until she meets Ben, who just might be the most obstinate, pig-headed, stubborn man she's ever run up against. She's used to being underestimated, but this guy's refusal to acknowledge that his life just might be in danger really grates on her nerves.

What follows in your classic lust-hate relationship. Callie and Ben both rub each other the wrong way, but there's no denying there is a definite, and mutual, sexual attraction. Naturally it doesn't take long for them to succumb, which is probably the main stumbling block. Readers used to getting burned by romantic suspense stories where the cop/FBI/ATF heroine loses her brain the minute she has an orgasm will likely have their doubts. Blessedly, Dimon doesn't go this route. Callie is intelligent, tough, and got a raw deal from the FBI. I like that the author didn't render her stupid just so the hero can swoop in at the end for a Rescue Fantasy Moment. I also liked that Callie called Ben on pretty much all of his bullshit. I liked this girl. Lots.

I often bemoan the fact that publishers and authors are determined to make every book part of a series these days. That nothing can just be a "stand alone" anymore. Which means readers are subjected to a lot of blatant, subtle-as-a-sledgehammer series-baiting. The thing about Dimon's books (that I've noticed anyway) is that as the reader I actually want all of her secondary characters to get their own books. Not sure how she does it. I think it might be the male-bonding thing. Anyway, instead of sequel-baiting brother Mark, he's the secondary romance in this story. I have to admit, that I found myself, at times, more interested in Mark's story than in the Ben and Callie romance - but the author does a good job of drawing both story lines together. I also thought the brother relationship between Ben and Mark was particularly well-done. They both survived a traumatic childhood event that left scars, with each of them channeling that emotional baggage in different ways.

This was a quick, sexy read that I managed to zip right though once I tuned out distractions, planted my butt in a chair, and started reading. It features all those things I've come to enjoy in Dimon's books - snappy dialogue, interesting suspense threads, and yummy heroes. For Leave Me Breathless I can also add the solid heroine to that list. Damn, I feel a glom coming on. The last thing I need right now is a glom....

Grade = B

Random Romance Sunday: The Hero With The Unfortunate Name

The Book: A Warrior's Quest by Margaret Moore

The Particulars: Harlequin Historical #175, 1993, Out Of Print

The Blurb:

Saucy as a tavern wench, Fritha Kendrick wore the mantle of her nobility lightly, eschewing courtly ways to tend to the practical needs of the local villagers. And Urien Fitzroy damned himself for wanting her. For the seasoned warrior's nightmare past woud surely harden even Fritha's loving heart.

Marked by the lethal grace of a lion in repose, mercenary Urien Fitzroy was sleek and dangerous. Yet Fritha Kendrick found that the soldier of fortune stirred a passion deep within her...and dared her to venture into the wild places of his soul!

Is It In Wendy's TBR?: Contrary to the popular opinion that Harlequin Historical owns my soul - no this isn't in my TBR.

Any Reviews?: Eh, not really. It's hard to dig up reviews for a romance novel that was published back when most people (excluding Al Gore and computer geeks - ha!) hadn't even heard of e-mail, let alone the Internet.

Anything Else?: Oh, there is so much. My favorite tidbit comes from Moore's web site where she talks about her Warrior series (of which this is book #2):

When I first wrote A WARRIOR'S HEART and sold it in 1991, I really didn't know what I had started. I did feel, however, that by giving a conscience to the character who had begun simply as the villain's "yes-man," I had created a potential hero. Fortunately, Tracy Farrell, the senior editor at Harlequin Historicals®, agreed. Unfortunately, by then, we were "stuck" with Urien's somewhat unpleasant-sounding name!

LOL! Let this be a lesson to authors everywhere. It's a good idea to agonize over all character names, not just your hero and heroine. You never know what's coming down the pipe....

Some of these older HH covers are simply fantastic in their Old School goodness. I love that the female cover model is wearing blush and lip gloss, and the hero's hair looks like something out of a Bon Jovi video. I didn't realize they had mousse and curling irons in medieval times. Who knew?

Moore used to lurk around the Bat Cave from time to time (she's a fellow Detroit Tigers fan), and I thought it would be fun to dig up something from her Harlequin Historical backlist for RRS (she's also written some books for Avon). Everybody wave hello to Margaret!

Drive-By Linky Post

Instead of thinking up scintillating blog material, I used my day off today to drive up and visit my Lil' Sis and baby Cecelia, who is now officially two weeks old. You can tell I don't have a ton of experience with newborns, since every time I see this kid I marvel at how teeny she is. I'm not sure what I was expecting. Like she'd be twenty pounds already? Catch a clue Wendy.

Anyway, in lieu of me bringing forth an actual effort on my own, author Susanna Kearsley has been keeping me in library-related linkage of late. Really great linkage at that!

• First up, Keith Richards....wannabe librarian? Turns out the Rolling Stones guitarist, who has more drugs in him than a Walgreens, is a bit of a book nut and at one point considered "professional training" to help him manage his collection. Full story here.

• This week was National Library Week, and ALA named Neil Gaiman as the honorary chair this year. There's a very lovely interview with him over at the Bookpage blog, where he talks about his love of libraries....and librarians. Lots 'o great stuff. Full story here.

Thanks Susanna! And am I the only one a bit disturbed by the idea of Keith Richards cataloging his book collection using the Dewey Decimal System? For that matter, Keith Richards even having a book collection? Simply....wow.

Botox, Martinis And Murder

I've never been afraid to admit that I adore reading fluff, and contrary to popular opinion, the romance genre isn't churning out an endless parade of it. I can't subsist on an endless diet of it, but when I do crave a little mindless fun, I tend to look for cozy mysteries with a dash of chick lit sass thrown in on the side. Heck, Janet Evanovich receives very nice royalty checks based on this formula. People need a nice, mindless diversion every now and then. A girl cannot live on angst alone. Which is why I'm head over heels in love with Laura Levine's Jaine Austen cozy mystery series. It's all about the fluff.

Death Of A Trophy Wife, the 9th book in the series, once again finds freelance writer Jaine fretting over her checkbook, which is on life support. She needs a job, and fast. It's while dining out with her fabulous neighbor, Lance, that they run into one of his best customers from the Neiman Marcus shoe department, Bunny Cooper. Bunny is the trophy wife of "Marvelous" Marvin Cooper, mattress king of Los Angeles. She invites Jaine and Lance over to their house for an impromptu pool party and suggests Jaine can pitch her ad slogan ideas to Marvin. Oh happy day!

However, it all goes south rather quickly. Bunny is a vile human being who treats everyone around her like dirt. Hired help, family, friends - Bunny is an equal opportunity bitch. So it's not exactly a shock when the woman ends up dead. However, what is a surprise is that the cops have zeroed in on Lance as their prime suspect. When it comes to Jaine's diet and wardrobe, Lance does get that murderous gleam in his eye, but killing off one of his best customers? Not likely.

Levine's books follow a fairly strict formula. They're written in a very chatty style, that does tend to employ "tell" over "show." Jaine's bank account is always near death, her love life continues to be dead on arrival, there are the wacky e-mails she gets from her parents, and enough murder suspects to populate a story twice their size (these books tend to clock in around 250 pages...max). There's, once again, a long list of potential bad guys here. There's the Bitter First Wife, the weaselly son-in-law, the mousy step-daughter, the professional stylist, the clumsy maid that Bunny enjoyed brow-beating, not to mention Marvelous Marvin himself.

Readers looking for a spine-tingling mystery with a lot of cloak-and-dagger sleuthing aren't going to find it here. Jaine's idea of sleuthing is talking to people, and the occasional eavesdropping on conversations. She's also a walking disaster area, the sort of person that tends to attract loonies and wacky hijinks where ever she goes. In this entry, it's a would-be suitor, Vladimir, from Uzbekistan, who wants to sweep Jaine off her feet, and back to the his home country, where they'll have their wedding, with his pet goat, Svetlana, serving as maid of honor.

No, I'm not making this up.

Yes, it's all very silly - but it's silly all in the name of good fun. I've stuck with this series from the beginning for a lot of the same reasons people stick with Janet Evanovich. They're fun, they're light, and I can count on the fact that I'll be amused. However, unlike Evanovich, I think Levine does a way better job with her mystery plots. Namely, in the suspect department. I have yet to "solve" any of her mysteries before the final curtain because the author does such a good job of offering me up a multitude of viable suspects with solid motives. Even in the case of this story, when I thought I had it figured out? Yeah. I didn't.

In the end though, it's voice. I like Jaine. Much to the horror of Lance, she likes her elastic waist-band pants and her Cuckoo For Cocoa Puffs t-shirt. She eats so much junk food that, if this were the real world, she'd weigh at least 639 pounds. She's still the slave in residence to her chow-hound kitty, Prozac. Her parents are downright certifiable, and she's destined to never find a "normal" guy. But God bless the girl, I love her to bits, because she says the things that all of us, at one time or another, have at least thought.

Kandi was waiting for me in the lobby of the cineplex with two tickets to one of those romantic comedies she's so fond of. You know the kind, where the size 0 heroine who in real life could have her pick of any guy in the world sits home alone Saturday nights in impossibly adorable pajamas, eating ice cream straight from the carton and never gains an ounce. Then she meets Mr. Cutie Pie, and after a few funny misunderstandings the two of them wind up in a liplock with Nat King Cole crooning in the background.

Another book in the series that didn't change my life, but dang, I had a great time reading it. And at the end of the day, that's all I really care about.

Grade = B

Laydown date for this book is April 27, 2010.

Literary Event Recap

As some of you know (OK, so maybe just the So. Cal. Bloggers), my library's fourth annual literary event was this past Saturday. Once again, for the fourth year running, I was on the committee that begged lined up the authors that attended and was put in charge of moderating the romance panel. So how did it go? Pretty good. There were some bumps in the road, but at least from my perspective (I couldn't clone myself and attend every single panel discussion after all!) it seemed to be well-received.

The romance panel seems to get better every year, and despite an unforeseen cancellation, I thought we kicked butt again this year. Sadly, Linda Wisdom was not able to join us. Her husband left a message on HelenKay Dimon's voice mail, and the gist of it was "medical emergency." I've since dropped her an e-mail, but if you're reading this blog post Linda we all hope you're feeling better! And we still sold some of your books! That's always good news, right?

Even with Linda's absence, that still left us with two fantastic authors on the panel - Tessa Dare and HelenKay Dimon. A couple of things of interest - both authors got their "start" thanks to online contests. HelenKay entered a Brava novella contest that was held via Lori Foster's web site, and Tessa was part of the Avon FanLit competition. I think the audience found Tessa's experiences with her back-to-back-to-back trilogy releases interesting, and HelenKay had some great advice about finding an agent. The consensus between Tessa and I was that HelenKay is just sheer awesomeness, and a great panel-mate. She'll probably kill me for typing this on a public forum - but someone needs to rope her into more RWA workshops! (Run HelenKay! Run!)

As for their books that sold well? I'm not sure what the starting stock was - but it looked like A Lady Of Persuasion and Surrender Of A Siren sold better than Goddess Of The Hunt. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if more stock of Goddess was on hand given it is book one of the trilogy. Color me surprised, but HelenKay's debut Harlequin Intrigue went like hot cakes! I thought for sure the Harlequin logo would turn up a few noses, but the price couldn't be beat. Also, the mass market edition of Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy did very well - the trade paperback of Holding Out For A Hero, not so much. But again, price was most likely a factor, so not a total shock that the Harlequin and mass market sold better than the trade.

Besides my romance duties, it was my job this year to land enough mystery writers for two panels. I attended both of them, and thought they were both really interesting, well-attended and enjoyable. The highlight, for me, was seeing Laura Levine, whose fluffy, cotton-candy Jaine Austen (no relation) series, is like chocolate cake for me. There she was, up at the front of the room, sitting with the other authors, and she had, in her hot little hands, a copy of Death Of A Trophy Wife, the latest hard cover book that won't be out until April 27.

I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but I briefly wondered how badly it would reflect upon me and my employer if I were to tackle the author and wrestle the book away from her.

Thankfully, I didn't have to. She brought along some of her author copies to sell! Squeeeee! So now, I have my very own copy. I've dropped everything, and am reading it right now. Squeeee!

Some interesting things I learned at the event? I need to learn to read faster (so many good books and interesting authors I'm flat-out not reading), Dean Koontz has his own security detail (not surprising really, as he writes the type of books that would bring out some crazies), and Laura Levine, while an ex-television writer, also used to work in advertising and created Count Chocula and Frankenberry for General Mills.

Which probably goes a long way in explaining why I like her books so much. Heh.

Now I have about a month or so where I can breathe easy - before I have to do it all over again. I've already started making a list of authors to beg approach about doing our 2011 event. Hopefully by the time RWA Nashville rolls around, I'll be well on my way of getting things locked down for Year #5.

Random Romance Sunday: Three Wives And A Baby

The Book: Just Deserts by Brenda Jackson

The Particulars: Contemporary Romance, Kimani Romance, 2008, In Print

The Blurb:

Learning that her estranged husband has passed away is the biggest shock of Danielle Timberlake-Foster's life - until she learns that she wasn't his only wife.

Though Danielle and Marc were separated, she believed they were about to reconcile and start a family. Rocked by betrayal, Danielle sees her dreams slipping away. Until her brother's best friend, Tristan Adams, offers support, comfort - and a chance to have the child she's always wanted.

Danielle is drawn to Tristan's strong, sensual nature, but she wed Marc in haste and regretted it. Is she about to repeat her mistake? Or will a marriage of convenience turn into the soulful union she's always longed for?

Is It In Wendy's TBR?: I have a couple of books by Jackson in my TBR, but not this one.

Any Reviews?: RT gave it a 4 1/2 star rating:

...the final installment of the Foster Wives stories, is the dessert after a fine meal. Brenda Jackson's gift for storytelling easily shines through characters with multilayered personalities, a plot that leaves no room for error and an entertaining story.

Anything Else?: This is book three in a multi-author trilogy. The other books are The Perfect Man by Carla Fredd and This Time For Good by Carmen Green.

I am easily confused, but this title baffles me. Deserts? Not Desserts? Wonder if it makes more sense after reading the book....

Oh and that cover? Yummers!

The Month That Was March 2010

Eight books for the month of March, which is actually very good for me. What's not so good is that two of those eight were titles I DNF'ed. I debated on counting them, but then figured since they are now out of my Ginormous TBR Mountain Range From Hell, that hell yeah I was counting them! Sneaky? Sure. Slightly dishonest? Maybe. Padding my numbers? OK, definitely. But it's my blog, my spreadsheet and therefore, my rules. The truth is out. Wendy considers herself a dictator in her own mind.

Here's how it breaks down. Title links take you to full reviews:

Pieces Of Sky by Kaki Warner - Historical western romance, 2010, Grade = B-

• Is this the greatest western ever written? No. Is it a fine debut? Yes. A heroine running from her past and a hero trying to hang on to his ranch fall in love against the back drop of a long-standing blood feud. Nice saga feel to the story, plenty of grit, but did feel that parts of the tale were given short-shift and glossed over. A nice debut, and a good start to the trilogy.

Heart Of Stone by Jill Marie Landis - Inspirational historical western romance, 2010, Grade = B

• Heroine desperate to keep her past dead and buried, finds herself attracting the attention of the hero, the local preacher whose own past shows up unannounced one day. This is a gentle inspirational story that employs forgiveness as it's central theme to set up a proposed four-book series. The hero is a little too slick and lacks depth, but the stand-out heroine and intriguing premise really sold me on the story. Looking forward to the future books.
  

Silver Lining by Maggie Osborne - Historical western romance, 2000, Grade = DNF

• DNF'ing a Maggie Osborne is a sign of the Apocalypse around the Bat Cave. I was intrigued by the heroine, but the premise wasn't gellin' for me and frankly - I thought the hero was an asswipe and was let off the hook way too easily.
  

Just One Touch by Debra Mullins - Historical Regency romance, 2005, Grade = DNF

• This story was a complete mess. The heroine's father was a moron. The hero suffered from multiple personality disorder, and the wallpaper history was beyond thin. The heroine might have been tolerable, but stacked up against those other sins, she didn't stand a chance. I gave up two-thirds of the way through.
  

Entertaining Mr. Stone by Portia Da Costa - Contemporary Erotica, 2006, Grade = C+

• My read for Keishon's TBR Challenge. Da Costa has written both erotica and erotic romance - and this book wasn't quite sure what it wanted to be. A bit kinkier than some of Da Costa's other work, I was never convinced that a relationship with the hero was really in the best interests of the heroine. A decent read, but nowhere near my favorite from this author, and one I'm unlikely to reread.
  

Butterfly Tattoo by Deirdre Knight - Contemporary Romance, LGBT, 2009, Grade = B+

• Bisexual hero still mourning the death of his lover, falls in love with the emotionally and physically scarred heroine. A tender romance with loads of angst-y baggage. I was less enthralled with the soap-opera-y sub plot, but this is a good, solid, emotionally charged read. It won't be to everybody's tastes, but what book is?
  

Wedding Night With The Ranger by Lauri Robinson - Historical Western eBook Short Story, 2010, Grade = C+

• The first ever western offered by the short story digital Undone line was a bit of a mixed bag. A well-done Big Misunderstanding plot, nice hero and heroine, and some risky moves like a preacher villain and a heroine sick to death of endless charity work. However, the villain is all bark, no bite, and a secondary character who sets the whole plot in motion (the heroine's Daddy) stays entirely off-page.
  

Notorious Eliza by Barbara Monajem - Historical Regency eBook Short Story, 2010, Grade = B-

• This one was a pleasant surprise! Heroine with notorious reputation is hired by hero's uncle to paint over some scandalous murals in his ballroom. Hero is looking for wife and falls under the spell of the completely unsuitable heroine. Sexy, sassy, an all-around great read. If it weren't for the huge honkin' hot button of mine that got pushed after the first sex scene I would have loved this one to pieces.
  

And that's all folks. Oh, and why Timothy Olyphant you ask? Because I'm hooked people. Well and truly hooked. Plus, why the heck not?

The "Pirate" And The "Governess"

Reading historical romances like Surrender Of A Siren by Tessa Dare always reinforces my joy that I was born in the latter half of the 20th century. While I'm certain there are some corners of the feminist ranks that would disagree with me, the truth is - I had (and still have) options. Women of the 19th century? Yeah, not so much.

Sophia Hathaway has been born, bred, and raised to look pretty, keep her mouth shut, and marry "up." Her family is counting on it. However our girl has bigger ambitions in life - oh, like namely having one. So just before she is to walk down the aisle with Sir Toby, she empties a bank account, and boards a ship heading to Tortola posing as a governess. The plan is to stay out of sight until her 21st birthday when she stands to inherit a chunk of money. Then she won't be forced to marry and can tell everyone to go to the devil.

Benedict "Gray" Grayson is a scoundrel trying to reform his privateer ways. This will be the Aphrodite's first legitimate voyage, and on that score, Gray is looking at the bottom line. Sophia, posing as "Miss Jane Turner," tells him she's a governess and she's been employed by a family he knows on the island. But something about the girl just doesn't add up. Worse still? He's attracted to her, and it certainly doesn't help matters that she's practically begging to be seduced. But he's promised his half-brother, the ship's captain, to behave himself, and that means keeping his hands off the delectable governess.

I was not surprised to learn that Surrender Of A Siren was the one book from this trilogy RWA chose to recognize with a recent RITA nomination. One thing I've learned over the years? There is a huge segment of the romance reading (and writing) community that cannot say no to shipboard romances. Sort of like me with westerns. And category romances. And books with cheesy clinch covers.

Hey, we all have our vices.

Much like Goddess Of The Hunt, this was a second half book for me. I'll be honest, this one was a slow-starter. I'm not sure if it was my mood, or the actual story, or what - but this one failed the pick-up, put-down test for the first half. It was certainly pleasant reading, but it never lit a fire in me to keep going.

The tide turned during the second half. By this point Gray and Sophia are no longer tap-dancing around each other, and the truth they've been hiding from each other begins to tear at the seams. And even with her moments of naivety, God bless her, Sophia has gumption:

"Now there is a falsehood. No one ever wants the truth from me. They just want the pretty package it comes in. If you really wanted to hear the truth, you'd listen. My feelings for you, they're as true a part of me as my name, or my place of birth. But you never want to hear them. You just keep running away."

Between their growing attraction, the realization that they're falling in love, coupled with some added drama that meets them on the high seas, the second half of this story positively cooks. It's also great fun to read about Gray. Here's a guy who has spent his life making selfish decisions, skirting the law, and seducing women of varying reputations - and now he's getting his head turned by a pretty, innocent governess who likes to get lost in fantastical daydreams.

This was a pleasant read once I got over the hurdle of the slow start. Not the greatest historical romance I've ever read, but a nice addition to the trilogy, and an impressive sophomore effort. The author also does a lovely job of setting the table for the final installment of the trilogy, A Lady Of Persuasion.

Final Grade = B-

Play Ball!

Yes kiddies, it's that time once again. The sun is shining, the daffodils are in bloom, and hope springs eternal for baseball fans around the world. Yes indeedy, today is Opening Day. The one day a year that Wendy actually allows herself to hope that maybe this year will be different. Maybe this is the year the Detroit Tigers won't leave me alone in the dark, quietly sobbing into my pillow, while My Man scurries around the Bat Cave kitchen hiding all our cutlery.

Last year was rough. What with our late season Epic Collapse From Hell and losing the tie-breaker to the Twins.

Then just to drive the knife a little further into my back, the Tigers decided to trade my fantasy boyfriend, Curtis Granderson to....

The Yankees.

My father called me at work when that news broke. Seriously. That's how bad it was.

However, having watched a few spring training games, and this being the first official day of a brand spankin' new season, I allow myself a few moments to hope. Just a few moments, on Opening Day, to wax poetic and spin glorious fantasies that our bull pen really won't be that horrible, our starting pitchers will all be the second coming of Cy Young, Miguel Cabrera will stay sober, Johnny Damon's noodle-arm in the outfield won't cost us games, and Austin Jackson will hit like Derek Jeter - and play like Torii Hunter in center field (My Man: "Way to not put any pressure on the kid Wendy." ::snort::)

Because today is Opening Day. The one day a year where I allow myself to believe that anything is possible, and all of it will be good.

Today is the day where I firmly believe the Tigers will run away with the division, crush the Yankees in the Playoffs, make it all the way to the World Series, and run the table for a sweep. This is the day where it's possible. This is the day where I allow myself to think it could actually happen. This is the day where I open my front door while brandishing a shotgun, greet reality standing on my porch, and tell her to take a hike, because what she's selling, I ain't buying.

I'll get back to the Real World tomorrow. Today is my day to dream.

Play ball!

Random Romance Sunday: Cheese Ahoy!

The Book: The Buccaneer by Donna Fletcher

The Particulars: Historical romance, Berkley Jove, 1995, Out Of Print

The Blurb:

His shoulders were broad, and muscles that had to have been developed by years of hard labor bulged from beneath his half-opened, white linen shirt. His legs were the width of mighty oaks that stretched the black material of his breeches to the limit, demonstrating every bit of prowess his body had to offer. But it was his face that made women catch their breath. A strong jaw. Sculpted cheekbones. A dangerous smile. Handsome, much too handsome. . .

His name was Captain Lucifer. His ruthless mastery of the sea was a notorious as his wicked way with women. And Catherine Abelard was his beautiful captive. By enslaving the stepdaughter of his enemy, the infamous pirate would have his final revenge. He would punish her with his kisses and force her to surrender to his every whim, every passion, every desire. But the devilish captor became the prisoner of his own longing. For Catherine found the tenderness beneath the treachery, the beauty within the beast. . . the lover behind the legend.

Is It In Wendy's TBR?: With a cover blurb like that? Uh, no. I thought I had some other books by Donna Fletcher in my TBR, but my LibraryThing account is telling me I don't. Hmmmm.

Any Reviews?: 1995 folks. So I got nothing other than some Squeeeeee! Amazon reviews.

Anything Else?: Oh good heavens, where to begin? That back cover blurb is probably solely responsible for the fair amount of crap the romance genre (and the readers) have had to endure over the years. Mighty oaks? Seriously? Mighty-frickin-oaks? And Captain Lucifer? Seriously? Captain-frickin'-Lucifer? They even threw the "punishing kisses" nonsense in there.

That being said, this whole affair sounds like just the ticket for you Old School Pirate On The High Seas fans. Heck, I know of at least a couple of readers who would pick up this book based on the staggering amount of purple prose on the back cover blurb alone.

Not that I'm throwing stones mind you. If this were a western, I'd probably be unable to resist rescuing it from a used bookstore. Sick monkey that I am.

We all have our vices.

Go On With Your Bad Self Lil' Sis!

Longtime Bat Cave followers will undoubtedly "know" my Lil' Sis, occasional commenter, all-around kick ass babe, high school English teacher and now? First time Mommy.

I woke up this morning to find a text message on my cell phone - sent at 2:45AM that read:

"At hospital. 4cm with contractions 2-4min apart and water broke. Looks like a fool will be born today :)"

Baby Cecelia came into the world at 9:42AM, weighing 7lbs 11oz and is a whopping 21 inches.

Mother, Father and baby are doing fine. I'm heading up to the hospital tomorrow for a visit.

And You Think I'm A Harsh?

I've been hanging around the online romance community for more years than I care to admit, which means at this stage in the game I ignore all "discussions" on reviewing and "mean girl reviewers and/or bloggers." Mostly because it's pointless. Authors hate bad reviews. Readers like to vent when they read, in their estimation, a crappy book.

And never the twain shall meet....

My assertion has always been, that outside of anonymous troll-y Amazon reviews that no one in their right mind puts any stock in anyway, most of the reviews I see online for romance novels are actually pretty tame. Even the "bad" ones. If you don't have a life, and were willing to wade through my archives to find D and F rated reviews, you'll notice that while I tend to froth at the mouth (a lot, in some cases), I never make it personal. I never say the author is ugly, smells bad, is a hack, should be publicly flogged for subjecting this crap on an unwitting reading public etc. etc. etc.

I may think it - but I never say it. I tend to keep the focus where it belongs - on the brain-dead characters and nonsensical plot lines.

Also, I've read way nastier reviews from "mainstream press," than anything I've seen some online reviewer/blogger cough up. This coming from the girl who reads book reviews...for a living.

But if you won't take my word for it, how about a juicy prime rib of an example? Here at the Bat Cave I occasionally like to educate as well as entertain, so consider this today's public service announcement. An example of Hey, It Could Be Worse or At Least They Didn't Say That About My Book....

Authors, the next time you see a negative review for one of your books online, take a deep breath and read this excerpt from the review for the children's book The Adventures of Hotsy Totsy by Clive Cussler, which can be found in the April 1, 2010 issue of Kirkus Reviews:

"Cussler's sequel to his abysmal Adventures of Vin Fiz (2006) suffers from all the same problems: stilted prose, gender stereotypes, unrealistic dialogue, deus-ex-magicus solutions to every problem. Both read as if written by someone who closed the cover on their last children's book in 1940. A publishing event that demands an apology to the industry, all children and the trees that gave their lives."
(Emphasis Super Librarian)

Now go back and read that "scathing" online review from that "mean girl" for your book.

Um, yeah.

P.S. - I've read many a snotty review in Kirkus over the years, but this one, by far and away, takes the cake. Actually, come to think of it, this may be the meanest review I've ever read. Period.

P.P.S. - Feel free to star this blog post in your feed reader, bookmark it in your web browser, or print it out for future reference. Go ahead. I won't mind.